The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-05-04
NO.. 20,

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Gated to the memory of Mr.. Calhoun.
It seemed to many to be almost a
mockery to expend this large sum on a
mere ornamental monument when thou
sands Of the people he loved so well
were unable to give their children even
the rudiments of education, and that no
monument could be more in keeping
with his character and the wishes he
would himself have had than school
for the training of the young.
But there was a serious difficulty N
the way. Very many of the original
subscribers to the fund, among them
some of the largest contributors, were
dead, many had removed from the State
and were inaccessible, and it would have
been assuming very grave responsible
ty for the comparatively small number
that could be brought together to divert
the fund even to so laudable q purpose.
Under these circumstances the Associa-
ton appealed for advice to a committee
of gentlemen, consisting of Messrs.
Henry Gourdin, Isaac ". Hayne, ".
D. Porter, James Conner, Wiimot G.
DeSaussure and ". J. Bennett, all Of
whom had been warm friends of the
Association. 1t is sad to note, in pass
ing, that not one OF them survives to
see the completion of the work they
were so much interested IN. These gen.
tlemen being unable to reach a full
agreement, on their suggestion the ques-
ton was submitted to the Hons. B. F.
DuDkin and Henry D. Lesesne two ex-
chancellors of the State, who, after
careful consideration, delivered an opin-
ion, in which they held that the invest
ment of the funds in the manner pro-
posed would not be the kind of monu-
ment intended by that word as used in
the Constitution OF the Association.
Accepting the dicision the Association
proceeded to carry out the original plan.
\ general meeting was held on the 18th
OF March, 1876, when it was agreed that
the general design OF the monument
should be a bronze statue Of MIR. Cal
houn upon pedestal of native granite.
A committee OF gentlemen, with Major
Henry Z. Young as Chairman, the As
sociation having been deprived by death
Of the invaluable services of Gourdin,
opened wide correspondence with the
view of obtaining an artist to execute
the statue and design the base Of the
monument, and in 1879 they recon-
mended to the Association Mr.. Albert E.
Harnisch, young artist, a native OF
Philadelphia, but residing and carrying
on his profession In Rome. Mr.. Harm
isch came to Charleston and submitted
several designs, one OF which, with some
notifications suggested by the Associa-
ton, was accepted, and contract was
made with Mr.. Harnisch for q bronze
statue OF Calhoun on pedestal of Caro-
lima granite, and four anegorical figures,
representing Truth, Justice, the Constl-
tuition and History, for the sum of S44,-
600.
The funds of the Association had been
so skiHully managed, and so well invested,
that they amounted by that time to up
wards OF $4,000, thus allowing an ample
sum beyond the cost of the bronze work
for the erection of the foundation and
pedestal. The base of Carolina granite
is thirty-six feet square, the height Of
the stone work thirty-three feet and Of
the fifteen, making the whole forty-eight
feet in height.
The statue of bronze, cast at the San
Michele foundry in Rome, represents
Mr.. Calhoun il the act OF addressing the
Senate; he has just risen from his seat
and the cloak which ne wore has fallen
upon the chair behind him.
The allegorical figures which will sur
round the base represent Truth, Justice,
Constitution and History.
TIE sARcoPHAGUs.
In 1888 the Legislature appropriated
the sum of $1,000 for the erection OF
the sarcophagus which now encloses the
remains. The marble slab which coy
cred the tomb was taken into the vesti-
bule of St. Philips Church and leaned
against the wall. In the great earth
quake of last August it was thrown
down and broken IL two just above the
The vestry OF the church
nave recently had it placed against the
north wall OF the churchyard, near the
spot where Mr.. Calhouu's remains were
Inferred during the war, with an appro-
pirate inscription.